Place 1 crust in bottom of 9 inch pie pan. Use egg wash on crust. Mixchicken, Veg-All, soup, milk or sherry, salt and pepper. Place in crust.Top with other crust; seal. Use egg wash and then make s.l.i.t.s. Bakeat 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Do not put on cookie sheet.

Thursday, April 27, 2006

For a safe alternative to potentially harmful insecticides, place three drops of peppermint, citronella, or eucalyptus essential oil on your socks. Mosquitoes and other bugs hate the smell of these oils.Don't apply essential oils to your favorite socks, as they can stain. Some eo's may cause skin irritation, so avoid direct contact. Reapply the eo every two to three hours.

Combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl.With a pastry blender, cut vegetable shortening into flour mixture until thereare fine crumbs. Add egg and milk and blend well. Pour vegetable oil to a 2 inchdepth in a deep fryer or large saucepan. Heat to 375 degrees.Pat frankfurter dry with paper towels. Insert a toothpick into the center of each frankfurter. Dip each frankfurter into batter and then into hot oil until golden brown. Drain on paper

Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Peel avocados and remove the pit (see below for a neat idea on how to use the pits)

Peel and mince the onion and the garlic

Chop the tomato.

Mash the avocado in a bowl (fun for the kids) and then stir in the remaining ingredients.

Serve cold with tortillas

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GROWING AVOCADO PITS

This is so much fun. My kids HATE guacamole, but they love growing the avocados, so they always ask to make it *laugh*. These plants grow HUGE!!

Push three toothpicks in each avocado about a 1/3 of the way from the bottom (large end of the pit).

Suspend the avocado over a glass (the toothpicks will hold it up). The pit should be in 1/2 inch or so of water. Keep the level constant by adding water as needed. DON'T change the water.

First, small roots appear on the bottom side, then the pit cracks and you can see the developing stem. There may be more than one stem and these should always be left alone. When the stem reaches 6 inches, cut it back to 3 inches; this induces a bushy leafy plant.

Plant them after about 2 1/2 weeks. Remove or break toothpicks off before planting. The upper portion of the seed must be exposed to allow new stems to grow so don't bury it all the way under the ground. The avocado should be potted in a large clay pot in a light sandy soil mixture.

Avocado plants need good light, but not too much direct sunlight. Let the plants dry out between waterings. Over watered plants will begin to wilt and shed dried leaves (which leads a lot of people to think they need MORE water which kills them even faster).

Keep them out of drafts. Ours always die eventually because we live in a very dry climate. But they're loads of fun while they last!

1. Cut the avocados in half, squeeze out the pit (just gently squeeze till it pops out) and scoop the fruit into a bowl.

2. Add the salt, juice, salsa, and garlic powder. Mash it together with a fork (I like to leave some chunks).Taste. If you can't taste the avocado much, add a bit of salt. If it's a little flat, dribble a little juice in. If it's not spicy enough, add a little salsa. Try more garlic powder to see how that changes it. Play with it and you will find your "ideal guac balance point". This is the secret to excellent guacamole!

4. Stir in cilantro and onion at the end if you want to. I usually do the cilantro, but not always.lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/snacks/r/guacamole.htm

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Rinse chicken and pat dry with paper towel. Sprinkle inside and out with salt and pepper. Place in a 13x9-inch baking dish.

SQUEEZE the juice from lemon and mix with dressing in a small bowl. Place the squeezed lemon halves inside the cavity of chicken. Drizzle dressing mixtureover chicken. Insert meat thermometer into thickest part of one of the chicken's thighs.

BAKE 1-1/2 hours or until chicken is cooked through (reaches an internal temperature of 180°F), basting occasionally.kraftfoods.com

Saturday, April 22, 2006

On a bright, sunny day, take a handful of fruit-bearing seeds to an area with rich soil. Hold the seeds tightly near your heart, repeating twice, "As these seeds multiply and grow, so too blessings will be sown. For _____________ (insert name of person), I release them to the wind, so the magic can begin!" At the final word of the second repetition, release your seeds, scattering them as you turn clockwise. If possible, take a rake to sow them properly into the soil so the magic germinates.

Lilies of any kind are a great addition to any garden, whether a formal look or a cottage style garden, lilies will impress.

Lilies--are very adaptable, but do best in well-worked, rich soil. Their tops like sun and their roots like shade, so mulch them heavily or plant companion annuals or perennials around them to provide shade. The dwarf varieties are ideal for containers. parkseed.com

Daylilies--thrive almost anywhere and they multiply and spread. They can be used as erosion protection or ground cover. They require minimum care yet they bloom year after year. Day lilies can be planted from Spring until late August. Plant them about two feet apart. They will spread and multiply and surprise you every year with new additions.

Daylilies grow best in full sunlight but will do well if there is sun for only part of the day. They dont do well in deep shade or in water logged soils.

Daylilies grow best in loamy soil in which organic matter has been incorporated, with good drainage and moderate moisture.

Set plants 2 feet apart. Dig a hole for each one, 2 feet in diameter and 18 inches deep. If you have compost, dried manure, peatmoss, or other organic matter, mix it with the soil you remove.

Fill the holes with water before planting the daylilies.

Then add enough soil to fill the bottom of the holes so the plants can be set at the proper depth. The crown - the area where the root clump meets the foliage - should be level with the top of the ground.

Add soil around the plants and press firmly in place.

Water plants every other day for a week or two after planting. Then water them once a week until you are sure they are well established.

A summer mulch reduces weed competition and slows evaporation of the soil surface. Water during dry periods to maintain health foliage and encourage repeat flowering.

Developing seed pods full of seeds takes a lot of energy from the plant. It is a good idea to pick off any developing seed pods.http://www.daylily-garden-perennials.com/

Orange Lily, or a Tiger Lily--some people call this Day Lily a "Ditch Lily". It's because this prolific wildflower is commonly found in ditches around a wide area of America. Propagation: Dig up and separate tuberous roots. Transplanting is best in spring or fall. Water thoroughly after transplanting roots.How to Grow:

It's easy to grow these wildflowers. They are at home in nature, or your flower garden.

Plant tuberous roots in groups. They do not mind crowding, and look their best when in bloom in a large, close together patch of bright orange flowers.

Tiger Lilies require little attention. They prefer moist to wet soils. That's why they grow so well in and near ditches. Fertilizer is not needed, except in the poorest of soils. They thrive in most regions of the U.S., and do not require winter protection.

Once established, they will thrive and grow year after year. http://www.gardenersnet.com/bulbs/tigerlily.htm

Info to plant Easter Lilies outdoors:

To plant your Easter Lilies outside, prepare a well-drained garden bed in a sunny location with rich, organic matter. Use a well- drained planting mix, or a mix of one part soil, one part peat moss and one part perlite. Good drainage is the key for success with lilies. To ensure adequate drainage, raise the garden bed by adding good soil to the top of the bed, thus obtaining a deeper topsoil and a rise to the planting area.

Plant the Easter Lily bulbs 3 inches below ground level, and mound up an additional 3 inches of topsoil over the bulb. Plant bulbs at least 12 to 18 inches apart in a hole sufficiently deep so that the bulbs can be placed in it with the roots spread out and down, as they naturally grow. Spread the roots and work the prepared soil in around the bulbs and the roots, leaving no air pockets. Water in immediately and thoroughly after planting. Try not to allow the soil to heave or shift after planting.

As the original plants begin to die back, cut the stems back to the soil surface. New growth will soon emerge. The Easter Lilies, which were forced to bloom under controlled greenhouse conditions in March, bloom naturally in the summer. You may be rewarded with a second bloom later this summer, but most likely you will have to wait until next June or July to see your Easter Lilies bloom again.

Another planting tip to consider is that lilies like their roots in shade and their heads in the sun. Mulching helps conserve moisture in between waterings, keeps the soil cool and loose, and provides a fluffy, nutritious medium for the stem roots. Or, a more attractive alternative would be to plant a "living mulch," or a low ground cover of shallow-rooted, complementary annuals or perennials. The stately Easter Lilies rising above lacy violas or primulas is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also sound gardening.

The Easter Lily bulbs are surprisingly hardy even in cold climates. Just be sure to provide winter protection by mulching the ground with a thick, generous layer of straw, pine needles, leaves, ground corncob, pieces of boxes or bags. Carefully remove the mulch in the spring to allow new shoots to come up, as your Easter Lilies will keep on giving beauty, grace and fragrance in years to come. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/lily/lily.html

Friday, April 21, 2006

Fresh garden herbs can easily be air dried, to preserve their flavor and quality. Air drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs, but this slow drying process also doesn't deplete the herbs of their oils. Here are some simple steps for air drying herbs.

Extending Your Herb GardenAir drying herbs is not only the easiest and least expensive way to dry fresh herbs, but this slow drying process also doesn't deplete the herbs of their oils. This process works best with herbs that don't have a high moisture content, like Bay, Dill, Marjoram, Oregano, Rosemary, Summer Savory and Thyme. Moisture dense herbs, like Basil, Chives, Mint, Tarragon preserve better in a dehydrator, or try freezing them. Use a microwave or oven to dry herbs only as a last resort. These actually cook the herbs to a degree, diminishing the oil content and flavor.

Harvesting

-Harvest before flowering. If you've been harvesting all season, your plants probably haven't had a chance to flower. But non-hardy herbs will start to decline as the weather cools, so late summer is a good time to begin drying your herbs.

-Cut in mid-morning. Let the morning dew dry from the leaves, but pick before the plants are wilting in the afternoon sun.

How To Dry Herbs

-Cut healthy branches from your herb plants.-Remove any dry or diseased leaves-Shake gently to remove and insects.-If necessary, rinse with cool water and pat well dry with paper towels. Wet herbs will mold and rot.-Remove the lower leaves along the bottom inch or so of the branch.-Bundle 4 - 6 branches together and tie as a bunch. You can use string or a rubber band. The bundles will shrink as they dry and the rubber band will loosen, so check periodically they the bundle is not slipping. Make small bundles if you are trying to dry herbs with high water content.-Punch or cut several holes in a paper bag. Label the bag with the name of the herb you are drying. Place the herb bundle upside down into the bag. Gather the ends of the bag around the bundle and tie closed. Make sure the herbs are not crowded inside the bag. Hand the bag upside down in a warm, airy room. Check in about two weeks to see how things are progressing. Keep checking weekly until your herbs are dry and ready to store.

Storing Dried Herbs Store your dried herbs in air tight containers. Zip closing bags will do. I like to use small canning jars. Be sure to label and date your containers.

Your herbs will retain more flavor is you store the leaves hole and crush them when you are ready to use them. Discard any dried herbs that show the slightest sign of mold. Place containers in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.

Dried herbs are best used within a year. As your herbs loose their color, they are also loosing their flavor.

1. Heat oven to 375ºF. 2. Fold wings of chicken across back with tips touching. Tie or skewer drumsticks to tail. Place chicken, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan. Insert meat thermometer so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone. 3. Roast uncovered 30 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients; brush generously over chicken. Roast uncovered about 1 hour longer, brushing 1 or 2 times with butter mixture, until thermometer reads 180°F and juice of chicken is no longer pink when center of thigh is cut. Let stand about 15 minutes for easier carving.

Violets are symbols of loyalty, and in April they are plentiful. They carpet our lawns like a blue mist.

You can use them in spells to keep your mate faithful. No doubt the Wise Ones who once walked the hills of Appalachia where I now live gathered violets on the edge of the woodland to use in spells such as this:

To ensure your love remains true; Pick six violets, all must be blue. Put them in water that you have blessed; Place them where your lover's head shall rest. After you do these things, take three ribbons—pink, yellow, and white—and wait until the darkness of night. Tie them around the branch of a tree, and say: We are now bound, So mote it be. -----------------

Home or Business Protection Spell

To bless your home or business, place a bowl of candy, herbs, or stones byyour front entrance. Bless the bowl's contents by speaking the following verse:

As all who enter hereare children of the Great Mother,May those who passalways walk safely in Her steps.

May they feel the guidance of Her hand, And know she is always with us, Fromthe time we meet till we meet again.

Combine cream cheese with sugar & eggs in food processor or mixer and blend until creamy. Pour on top of chocolate chip batter in pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Spread or drop the remaining chocolate chip batter by small spoonfuls over cheese filling. Bake for 45 minutes. Cool and cut into pieces.

Combine lime juice, mayonnaise, onion powder, and pepper in a small bowl, and spread over fish. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs; drizzle with butter. Bake at 425 degrees F for 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with parsley.

Stir together the wine; oil; parsley; Worcestershire sauce; sage, basil, or marjoram; and pepper in a small bowl. To use, pour over seafood or chicken in a plastic bag set in a bowl or shallow dish; close bag. Refrigerate 2 to 4 hours. Makes about 1 cup (enough for 2 to 3 pounds fish or chicken.

Sprinkle chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Heat oil in skillet and brown chicken on both sides. Remove chicken and set aside. Add onion and garlic to the skillet and saute, stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, oregano and basil. Return chicken to the skillet and simmer over low heat for 45 minutes. Add mushrooms and wine and simmer another 20 - 30 minutes. Serve over hot cooked pasta.